Refrigerated display case



Aug. 12, 1947. H. A. MORRIS 2,425,295

REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CASE Filed Q01,- 5, 1944 INVENTOR. Haw) 4. Mae/e1:

Patented Aug. 12, 1947 aarmcma'ran DISPLAY case Harry A. Morris, Trenton, N. 1., assignor to C. V. Hill 8: Company, Inc., Trenton, N. 1., a corpora.

tion of New Jersey Application October 5, 1944, Serial No. 557,341

12 Claims.

My invention relates to refrigerated display cases which embody an upper display chamber and a lower storage chamber, and particularly to constructions in which the air within said caseis cooled and circulated through the display and storage chambers.

Many types of display cases have been designed heretofore in which the air is cooled and, positively circulated through storage and display chambers. However, constructions of this character have not always been satisfactory because of the difficulties encountered in cooling each chamber to the desired temperature. These difflculties have been due primarily to the fact that when the air is passed over a single cooling coil and then successively through both chambers, the air entering the second chamber has its temperatures raised by the heat absorbed in the first chamber. On the other hand those constructions in which more than one coil is used have been complicated and expensive to construct and the coils have occupied much of the space which is needed for storage or display of the articles being cooled.

In accordance with the present invention these objections to constructions of the prior art are overcome by the use of two cooling coils, one of which is associated with each chamber, and by providing means for directing air over one of these coils into one chamber and over the other coil into the other chamber.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a refrigerated display case with a novel type of air circulating system.

Another object of my invention is to insure the desired control and circulation of air used in cooling the display and storage chambers of a display case.

A further object of my invention is to provide simple, economical, air cooling and circulating means for display cases wherein the parts may be readily kept in a clean, sanitary condition.

These and other objects andfeatures of my invention will appear from the following description thereof in which reference is made to the figures of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a preferred type of refrigerated display case embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section showing the lower portion of a refrigerated display case embodying my invention and illustrating an alternative coil and battle arrangement.

In each of the forms of my invention illustrated, air which has been cooled by passage over one refrigerating coil is delivered into the storage chamber. A single air circulating means receiving air from the storage chamber serves to cause air to flow over each coil and thence into the chamber with which that coil lsassociated. The currents of air circulating through the display and storage chambers thereafter converge and coincide as they return to the air circulating means but the temperature of the principal body of air flowing through each chamber may be controlled so as to maintain the desired temperature therein.

The display case shown in Fig. 1 is typical of those in which my invention may be embodied and embodies an upper display chamber 2 and a lower storage chamber 4. The display chamber is separated from the storage chamber by suitable article supporting means having air passages therethrough, such as the spaced slats or racks 8 upon which platters or other receptacles may be located to receive the articles to be cooled while on display. The front of the case is provided with conventional multiple glass panes 8 through which articles in the display chamber may be viewed, while the rear of the case is provided with sliding doors ill for access to the upper display chamber and pivotally mounted doors l2 to provide access to the lower storage chamber.

A housing I is located in the storage chamber, preferably adjacent the front wall it thereof and is provided with a single air inlet and two air outlets. The air inlet is shown at is and communicates with the storage chamber whereas the air outlet indicated at 20 is located adjacent the upper portion of the housing communicating directly with the display chamber and the air outlet indicated at 22 is located adjacent the lower portion of the housing communicating directly with the storage chamber.

7 Within the housing I are located refrigerating means such as the coils 24 and 26 which may be independently controlled or may be different sections of thesame coil. As shown, the coil 24 is located between the air inlet is and the upper outlet 20 communicating with the display chamber and serves to cool the air withdrawn from the storage chamber and passed into the display chamber. The coil 26 is spaced from the coil 24- and located between the air inlet 18 and the lower outlet 22 and serves to cool the air circulated through the storage chamber. The tem perature of the coils 24 and 28 may be individually controlled or the size of the coils may be predetermined so as to maintain the desired temperature in each chamber or so as to maintain a predetermined diilerence in temperature between the two chambers. Similarly the size and positioning of the outlet openings and bailles in the housing It may be varied to insure a predetermined velocity of flow and distribution of the air circulated through the storage and display chambers. Ordinarily the temperature and velocity of flow of the air circulating through the storage chamber are somewhat lower than those of the air circulated through the display chamber.

Circulation of the air within the case and through the housing and over coils fl and It is effected by means of the fan or blower 28 located intheairinlet llofthehousingilandsupportedbythehousingsoastooccupyonlya limited space in the front of the storage chamber and will not materially limit the capacity of the chamber. The blower is preferably located substantially midway between the ends of the case so that air therefrom will flow in opposite directions longitudinally of the case towards the ends thereof in the free space between the coils. The air also flows upward over the coil 24 and thence into the display chamber and flows downward o'er the coil 28 into the storage chamber. A deflecting member ll is also provided above the outlet II from the housing it to direct the air passing to the display chamber inwardly and away from immediate contact with the front window of the cabinet. In this way frosting or logging of the glass panes is reduced.

In the operation of this form of the invention the air delivered from the fan 2| divides into a display chamber current which passes up over coil 24 and a storage chamber current which passes downwardly over the coils II. The display chamber current passes upwardly through the air outlet into the display chamber circulating rearwardly and downwardly over the articles on display and: then passes between the slats or through the racks I to return to the fan 28. The storage chamber air current passes downwardly through the air outlet 22 and rearwardlythrough the storage chamber flowing upward to mingle with the air returning from the display chamber and passing to the blower.

That form of my invention shown in Fig, 2 is used in combination with a structure having display and storage chambers such as those illustrated in Fig. 1. The construction embodies a particular arrangement of coils and bailies within a coil housing 32 having a centrally located air inlet 3 in which a fan or blower It is mounted. The upper portion of the housing is formed with an air outlet II which communicates directly with the display chamber whereas the lower portion of the housing is provided with an air outlet lll communicating directly with the storage chamber.

The upper coil 42 in this construction is relatively large and is formed in two sections with the opposite ends thereof inclined downward toward the lower portion of housing. The lower coil 44 is also formed in two separate sections which are longitudinally spaced and cooperate with the upper coils to form converging air spaces 48 between the coils. With this construction the air is distributed lengthwise of the housing and passes over the portions of the coils spaced from the inlet I4 and through all portions of the upper outlet ll and lower outlet at substantially the same velocity. The construction 4 also is shown as provided with a bailie 4. located above the inlet N and with other bafles ll below the inlet for directing and distributing the air so astoinsurethedesiredvoiumeandveiocitrof fiowoftheairthrougheachoutlet.

The direction and manner of flow of the air through the display and storage chambers when using the coil and housing arrangement shown inflaiisdmiiartothatiliustratedanddescribed above in connection with that form of my invention shown in Fig. l. The air passing from the upper outlet is flows directly to the display chamber and circulates therethrough returnin totheairinletllthroughtherackll which separates the display chamber from the storage chamber. The air which passes from the lower outlet ll flows directly into the storage chamber and circulates therethrough until it also returns to the air inlet 34.

In each form of my invention described above. the temperature of the coils may be independently regulated to insure the desired temperature of the air circulated through each chamber. Furthermore. the construction is such that the blower and coils are compactly arranged and carried by a housing which occupies-a very limited space so that they may be located adjacent one wall of the case and preferably the front wall of the storage chamber and thereby may be constructed and installed as a unit and positioned in such a way that they do not appreciably reduce the available capacity of the case.

Numerous other cell arrangements and forms of housing and baflie members besides those here disclosed will occur to those familiar with this art. and in view thereof the particular embodiments of my invention chosen for purposes of iilustration should be understood to be illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope o my invention.

I claim:

1. In a refrigerated display case having an upper display chamber and a lower storage chamber. means for cooling and circulating air through both of said chambers. comprising a refrigerating coil associated with the display chamber. another refrigerating coil associated with the storage chamber, and means for forcing air over each of said coils and thence into the chamber with which that coil is associated.

2. In a refrigerated display case having an upper display chamber and a lower storage chamber, means for cooling and circulating air through both of said chambers, comprising a refrigerating coil associated with the display chamber, another refrigerating coil associated with the storage chamber, and a single blower for forcing air over both of said coils and thence into the chamber with which each coil is associated.

3. In a refrigerated display case having an upper display chamber and a lower storage chamber, means for cooling and circulating air through both of said chambers, comprising a refrigerating coil associated with the display chamber, another refrigerating coil associated with the storage chamber. said coils both being located in the front of said storage chamber, a blower, and means for directing air from said blower over both coils and thence into the chamber with which each coil is associated.

4. In a refrigerated display case having an upper display chamber and a lower storage chamber, means for cooling and circulating air through both of said chambers, comprising a refrigerating coll associated with the display chamber, another amas refrigerating coil associated with the storage chamber, said coils both being located in the front of said storage chamber, a blower located adiacent said coils, and baiilemeans arranged to dimet a portion of the air from said blower over one coil and into the chamber with which that coil is associated, and for directing air over the other coil and into the other chamber.

5. In a refrigerated display case having an upper display chamber and a lower storage chamber, means for cooling and circulating air through both of said chambers, comprising a refrigerating coil associated with the display chamber, another refrigerating coil associated with the storage chamber, said coils both being located in the front of said storage chamber, a blower located adjacent said coils, and baille means arranged to a direct a portion of the air from said blower over one coil and into the chamber with which that coil is associated, and for directing additional air from said blower over the other coil and into the other chamber. a

6. In a refrigerated display case having an upper display chamber and a lower storage chamber, means for cooling air and for directing the same through each of said chambers, comprising two refrigerating coils located in the storage chamber adjacent the front wall thereof, a housing for said coils, a blower carried by said housing and communicating on the intake side thereof with the storage chamber, and means for directing air from the blower over one coil into the display chamber and over the other coil into the storage chamber.

7. In a refrigerated display case having an upper display chamber and a lower storage chamber, means for cooling air and for directing the same through each of said chambers, comprising a housing in the front of the storage chamber, two refrigerating coils located within said housing, a blower positioned to draw air from said storage chamber into said housing, and means arranged to direct air in one direction through said housing and over one coil into one chamber, and in the opposite directions over the other coil and into the other chamber.

8. In a refrigerated display case having an upper display chamber and a lower storage chamber, a housing in the front of the storage chamber, a blower supported by said housing, air passages for conducting air from said blower directly into each chamber, and refrigerating coils associated with each passage located in said housing for cooling said air.

9. In a refrigerated display case having an upper display chamber and a lower storage chamber, a housing located in the front of the storage chamber and having an air inlet and two air housing between said air inlet outlets, one of said air outlets communicating with said display chamber and the other of said air outlets communicating with said storage chamber, cooling coils associated with each air outlet located within said housing, and means for forcing air from the storage chamber into said air inlet, over said coils and from both of said air outlets.

10, In a refrigerated display case having an upper display chamber and a lower storage chamber, a housing located in said storage chamber and having an air inlet communicating with said storage chamber, an upper air outlet communicating with said display chamber and a lower air outlet communicating with said storage chamber, refrigerating coils associated with each of said air outlets located in said housing and a blower for forcing air from said storage chamber into said inlet, over said coils and from both of said air outlets.

11. In a refrigerated display case having an upper display chamber and a lower storage chamber, a housing located in the front of said storage chamber and having an air inlet communicating with said storage chamber, an upper air outlet communicating directly with'said display chamber and a lower air outlet communicating direct-- ly with said storage chamber, refrigerating coils associated with each of said air outlets located in said housing and a blower for forcing air from said storage chamber into said air inlet, over said coils and from both of said air outlets.

12. In a refrigerated display case having an upper display chamber and a. lower storage chamber, a housing located in the front of said storage chamber and having an air inlet communicating with said storage chamber, an upper air outlet communicating directly with said display chamber and a lower air outlet communicating directly with said storage chamber, a refrigerating coil located in said housing between said air inlet and said upper air outlet, a second coil located in said and said lower air outlet, and a blower for forcing air from said storage chamber into said air inlet, over said coils and from both of said air outlets.

HARRY A. MORRIS.

REFERENCES CITED ,The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Wicke Apr. 25, 1933 

